Endoscopic Polyp Size Measurement Using a Laser-Based Sizing Probe: Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Endoscopy
• Medical Device Technology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Accurate colorectal polyp size measurement is critical for guiding resection strategies and determining appropriate post-polypectomy surveillance intervals.
• Current methods for polyp sizing can be imprecise, impacting clinical decision-making.
• A novel through-the-scope laser-based probe was developed to enhance polyp measurement accuracy during colonoscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of a through-the-scope laser-based probe for measuring colorectal polyp size.
• To assess the probe's agreement with microscopic sizing as the reference standard.
• To determine the probe's implementation rate, technical success, and measurement time.

Main Methods:

• A prospective pilot study involved measuring colorectal polyps using a laser-based probe during colonoscopy.
• Microscopic sizing served as the reference standard for assessing accuracy.
• Primary outcome: mean bias between laser-based and microscopic measurements; Secondary outcomes: agreement, success rates, and time.

Main Results:

• Laser-based measurements demonstrated minimal bias (-0.10 mm) and met the noninferiority margin compared to microscopic sizing (P = 0.328).
• High agreement was observed between the laser probe and reference standard (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91; κ = 0.85).
• Technical success rate was 40.9%, with limitations including measurement time and device-related issues.

Conclusions:

• The laser-based probe provides accurate colorectal polyp sizing when measurements are successfully obtained.
• Technical success rates were suboptimal, highlighting challenges in device implementation and usability.
• Further refinement of the technology is needed to improve reliability and efficiency for clinical adoption.